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ALSDE SES Application Technical Assistance February 25, 2011

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Supplemental Educational Services: What it is..and isn’t!

…Provides extra academic assistance for low-income students who are attending Title I schools that have failed to make state goals (AYP) for three or more years

…Allows students opportunities to increase or strengthen academic performance in the areas of reading, language arts, and mathematics

…Not “homework” help…

Each state must establish a definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP) for each school.

Definition is used to measure the academic achievement of schools and districts over time.

NCLB Requirements

NCLB Requirements

Alabama determines Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) by administering achievement tests, based on state academic content standards, to students Grades 3-8 and the Alabama High School Graduation Exam in high school.

Components of AYP

Annual Goals for Reading and Mathematics

Percentage of students scoring in a proficient range or higher

Other Academic Indicators

Attendance

Graduation Rate

Participation Rate

Percent of students actually taking assessments

Sample Timeline For School Improvement (SI)

School Improvement

Year 1

School Choice

Students will be given the option to transfer to a higher performing public school within the district.

School Improvement

Year 2

School Choice and SES

Added to School Choice is eligibility to receive Supplemental Educational Services (SES).

Title I Schools in School Improvement:

Accountability

Work toward the goal of 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2013-14.

Provide measurable objectives for all children and for specific groups.

Title I Schools That Do Not Make AYP…

After 2 consecutive years

Receive School Improvement status; Construct a plan for improvement to strengthen instruction; Address the causes of low achievement and professional learning opportunities.

School Choice must be offered to all students (unless the school district does not have another “choice” school).

Who Is Eligible For SES?

Children from low-income families (based on free/reduced meal status) attending Title I schools in need of improvement.

There are extenuating circumstances for a district offering SES to Title I schools in Year 1.

Responsibilities

ALSDE – identifies the schools in which SES will be offered and which providers will be approved to deliver SES.

Providers – communicate with parents and districts openly and periodically.

Parents – choose a preferred SES provider from state list and inform the school district of their choice.

Establishing Priorities

In rare circumstances in which the number of students requesting services exceeds the amount the school district can fund, systems must give priority to students who are the lowest achieving low income.

Available services should include…

Tutoring

Accelerating support for

academic intervention.

Note: All instruction must take place outside the regular school day.

Computer-Based Technology

Some areas may have a limited number of providers, so organizations that provide distance learning technology should be considered.

Providers that utilize distance learning do not have different criteria for eligibility.

School entity (public or private)

Institution of higher learning (public or private)

Non-profit or for profit organization

Faith-based organization

Provider Profile: May be….

THE APPLICATION

2011-2012 SES Application

The SES Application for the 2011-2012 school year can be found on the homepage of the ALSDE’s website at www.alsde.edu. Look below “Hot Topics” and click on “Click Here for Additional Hot Topics.” Scroll down to find the application that was released on February 4th.

Application Process

Applications are submitted once per year.

Applications are read by a committee of outside reviewers who score them using an evaluation rubric.

Application Process, cont.

New providers are added to the provider list that is posted on the Alabama State Department of Education website, www.alsde.edu.

School districts inform parents of the opportunity for SES.

Part I: Basic Program Information

Description of the program

Location of delivery

Length of tutoring sessions

Grades served

Special groups, if applicable

Transportation arrangements, if applicable

Complete all 23 items of information

Item 23:LEAs and Number of Students to Serve

Select the LEAs/schools that you wish to serve. Place an “X” in the “To Serve” column, then write the minimum number of students that you will require to sign up for your program to conduct a class.

Note that the schools on this chart are schools that received SES during the current school year. Any new schools that might be added for the 2011-2012 school year will not be announced until the first week in August. Approved providers will be allowed to update their lists at that time.

Important Note

On item #23, you have the option to select that you are willing to serve statewide (all schools that qualify for SES).

Caution: If you select this box (which is the first on the list), you must be prepared to serve all schools, both rural and urban, but failure to follow-up with all eligible systems is not a good thing.

Staff

Indicate who will be teaching.

Give details on tutor qualifications.

Describe what training and on-going support tutors will receive.

Outline how the SES provider intends to provide substitutes or notify the LEA when students should not remain after school for tutoring.

Part II: Program Overview

Program Overview is a summary of your program in a format that will be used in publications given to parents, schools, and districts. Be sure to include the seven required items.

Part III: Program Narratives (Sections A-K)

Complete all sections and adhere to page limits that are noted for sections A-K.

Address all elements in each section. Elements not addressed will cause the application to be eliminated from the approval process.

Part III: Section B

If you propose to serve K-8 in reading, be sure to include Appendix A.

If you propose to serve K-8 in math, be sure to include Appendix B.

If you propose to serve grades 9-12, be sure to include Appendix C.

Program Content

Program must be consistent with instruction programs of the school district and Alabama academic content standards.

Resources may be used that have been developed for other venues but lessons are based solely on the AL State Courses of Study.

Most Recent AL Courses of Study

Program Effectiveness

Provide evidence that what your company has done or plans to do will be effective.

Strategies that have worked or have a high probability of working.

Provide data that demonstrates students have achieved using your program.

Part III: Section D

Appendix D should include samples of all instruments used to evaluate, monitor, and track student progress throughout the duration of the program.

Part III: Section E

BE SPECIFIC! Keep in mind that communication should be on-going, but progress reports should be given at least monthly.

Outline the step-by-step process that will be followed by your tutors and staff.

Part III: Section F

Communication with parents is required at least monthly through progress reports.

Be sure to include samples of the progress reports used by your company in Appendix E.

Part III: Section G

Submit the resumes’ of those who will serve as the representatives and/or coordinators of your company in Alabama in Appendix F.

If personnel for Alabama have not yet been hired, include resumes’ for those people with whom we would be working until Alabama “reps” are hired.

Part III: Section HFinancial Soundness

In the past, most applications that did not make it through to the reading process failed to include appropriate information for this section.

Include ALL information requested for each of the items in #1-#6.

Part III: Section H, Item #6

All companies MUST be able to prove that they are financially sound. The ALSDE will accept only one of two documents and they are: 1) a copy of an unqualified opinion for the company’s annual financial statement audit that has been completed within the last two years and certified by a CPA or audit firm.

Part III: Section H, #6 (continued)

Or the company may submit an original letter that qualifies as “an irrevocable financial letter of credit” in the amount of at least $75,000 to document financial viability. This letter must be on original clearly visible letterhead from the banking or financial institution with the appropriate financial institution officer’s signature in blue ink with contact information.

Part III, Section H, #6 (continued)

The submission of any other types of financial documents for this section will not be accepted.

NOTE: Bank officials will be contacted by phone to verify letters. Letters found to be fraudulent or that are signed by unauthorized personnel will cause the application to automatically be disqualified.

Part III, Section KAdvertising and Incentives

The TOTAL amount of incentives for each child may not exceed $50.00.

Describe in detail how you plan to advertise your services.

Describe incentives offered to students, as well as tutors.

Required SES Provider Summary

Complete the two pages for this section for dissemination to the public regarding your services.

Do not leave any box blank.

Assurances Form

All applications must have a signed Assurances form in blue ink.

Remember that “Assurances” are signed promises that companies must adhere to at all times.

Contact Information

If after reviewing this information you still have questions regarding the application, please contact: